Hurdles from Hungary: Navigating challenges to Ukraine’s EU accession
Now that the European Commission has opened up accession negotiations for Ukraine, Kyiv should use careful diplomacy to contend with potential opposition from Budapest
Experts & Staff
Margaryta Khvostova
ECFR Alumni · Visiting Fellow
Areas of expertise
Ukraine’s security and defence, reforms process and democratic development in Ukraine; human rights; EU-Ukraine relations
Languages
English, Ukrainian, Polish (can read and understand)
Biography
Margaryta Khvostova was a visiting fellow with the Wider Europe programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Her research focused on security and defence, human rights, and Ukraine’s democratic development and integration into EU and NATO structures.
Khvostova is an advocacy manager at the Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition, a group of leading NGOs that promotes reforms and good governance in Ukraine. Prior to that, she was a lecturer in international relations at the Lazarski University in Warsaw.
She has published extensively on human rights and identity and nation-building processes in Ukraine and other eastern European countries.
The art of defence: Why the West should help Ukraine grow its military industry
To arm Ukraine for the long war, Europe and the United States should support the development of the country’s military industry to reduce its reliance on Western weapons
All-weather allies: Ukraine’s counteroffensive and the coming winter
With less than two months remaining until winter begins, Ukrainian forces are working to secure better positions for the 2024 campaign. Western allies can help them prepare
The Ukrainian counteroffensive: Why Western allies should keep calm and carry on
The Ukrainian counteroffensive is contending with a well-prepared enemy. Western allies need to remain patient as they equip Ukraine to put continued pressure on Russian defences
The Kyiv sanctuary: Building the Ukrainian defence against Russian missiles
Ukraine, together with its Western allies, has created an effective air defence system against Russian missiles and drones in Kyiv. Now it is time to extend that system to the rest of the country
The Zelensky-Lukashenka-Tsikhanouskaya triangle: Understanding Ukraine’s relationship with the Belarusian opposition
Despite their common goals, the Ukrainian authorities have shown little interest in cooperating with the Belarusian opposition. As an ally to both, the EU can facilitate their understanding and engagement
Resist and reform: Ukraine’s democracy after a year of war
Ukraine’s EU candidacy means the country not only has to preserve its democratic institutions in the face of all-out war – but also reform and strengthen them
Closing ranks: Ukraine’s role in future European defence
European leaders should integrate Ukraine into common defence projects, where the country’s experience and knowledge of war-fighting will be invaluable
Send in the Leopards: Why Western allies should deliver tanks to Ukraine
After several countries committed to delivering heavy weapons to Ukraine, all eyes are on Germany and the US, and whether they will agree to send Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
Test drive: How Ukraine could strengthen Europe’s Sky Shield Initiative
Ukraine’s experience of defending itself against Russian aerial attacks could make it an important future member of Europe’s Sky Shield Initiative
Articles
Hurdles from Hungary: Navigating challenges to Ukraine’s EU accession
Now that the European Commission has opened up accession negotiations for Ukraine, Kyiv should use careful diplomacy to contend with potential opposition from Budapest
The art of defence: Why the West should help Ukraine grow its military industry
To arm Ukraine for the long war, Europe and the United States should support the development of the country’s military industry to reduce its reliance on Western weapons
All-weather allies: Ukraine’s counteroffensive and the coming winter
With less than two months remaining until winter begins, Ukrainian forces are working to secure better positions for the 2024 campaign. Western allies can help them prepare
The Ukrainian counteroffensive: Why Western allies should keep calm and carry on
The Ukrainian counteroffensive is contending with a well-prepared enemy. Western allies need to remain patient as they equip Ukraine to put continued pressure on Russian defences
The Kyiv sanctuary: Building the Ukrainian defence against Russian missiles
Ukraine, together with its Western allies, has created an effective air defence system against Russian missiles and drones in Kyiv. Now it is time to extend that system to the rest of the country
The Zelensky-Lukashenka-Tsikhanouskaya triangle: Understanding Ukraine’s relationship with the Belarusian opposition
Despite their common goals, the Ukrainian authorities have shown little interest in cooperating with the Belarusian opposition. As an ally to both, the EU can facilitate their understanding and engagement
Resist and reform: Ukraine’s democracy after a year of war
Ukraine’s EU candidacy means the country not only has to preserve its democratic institutions in the face of all-out war – but also reform and strengthen them
Closing ranks: Ukraine’s role in future European defence
European leaders should integrate Ukraine into common defence projects, where the country’s experience and knowledge of war-fighting will be invaluable
Send in the Leopards: Why Western allies should deliver tanks to Ukraine
After several countries committed to delivering heavy weapons to Ukraine, all eyes are on Germany and the US, and whether they will agree to send Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
Test drive: How Ukraine could strengthen Europe’s Sky Shield Initiative
Ukraine’s experience of defending itself against Russian aerial attacks could make it an important future member of Europe’s Sky Shield Initiative
In the media
Progress seems slow compared to the successful counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson – but the Ukrainian military also faces greater challenges
Margaryta Khvostova comments on the Ukrainian counteroffensive
The Russian military responded to these failures by reverting to tactics based on barrage fire
Denys Davydenko, Margaryta Khvostova, Dmytro Kryvosheiev and Olga Lymar analyse Russia’s initial military failures in Ukraine
As an ally to both, the European Union can facilitate their mutual understanding and engagement
Margaryta Khvostova, Dmytro Kryvosheiev and Pavel Slunkin on Ukraine’s relationship with the Belarusian opposition